Steps to Take to Prevent Foreclosure

When you bought your home, you signed on the bottom line without reading all that fine print. Who really reads all that fine print anyway? First of all, you'd need a magnifying glass to see it, and, second, you'd need to be a law professor to decipher it. Realize, though, that you're not alone. There are many people who signed on that dotted line without really understanding what they were signing. Just like you perhaps, these people are finding that their interest rates on their loans have jumped suddenly and they are no longer able to make their payments. They're facing the ugly mess of a foreclosure.

Foreclosure simply means that the bank is coming to take back possession of your home. If you are facing this drastic measure, there are still ways and means that can be employed to help you through this. In a majority of cases now, foreclosure happened because of greedy lending practices. Mortgage lenders and brokers were out to make a fast buck. You should have been told what you were signing and what it meant, but that did not happen. Unfortunately, that is now in the past. You must now do some work on your part to find a solution and secure your future.

Contact Your Bank or Mortgage Company

If you find yourself facing foreclosure, the first thing you should do, if you haven't already done so, is contact your lender. If your lender also happens to be a bank, contact the bank directly and ask them for arrangements to help you work things out. It is good for you to know that a bank does not want to go through a foreclosure either. It is far better for them to have you make your payments and stay in your house. Due to this, the bank will do whatever they can to make the necessary arrangements and work things out.

When a bank conducts a foreclosure, they risk the house remaining empty for a long period of time. If they do happen to sell it, they usually end up getting far less for it than if you were paying. So ask them for help if you've fallen on hard times. You're not alone and it's likely they'll work with you.

Get In Touch With an Attorney

You may indeed have a case you could pursue in court if you have been the victim of greedy lending practices or unscrupulous business procedures. Get in touch with an attorney to see what your rights are. Be careful, because attorneys can be very expensive, as we all know. They may even question whether or not you can pay their fee if you are unable to even pay your house payment. While that may be true in some instances, you may be able to find an attorney that will work on your case on contingency. Working on contingency means the attorney will not charge you anything unless there is a judgment or settlement in your favor. They do not get paid unless you get paid. It is positively worth a stab at this angle, especially if it means you can avoid the foreclosure proceedings.

Don't Run Away From Foreclosure

When facing foreclosure proceedings, the best advice anyone can give you is not to run away or skip out on your obligation. You not only are in danger of ruining your credit rating for a long time, lenders will be less likely to trust you in the future. Besides that, you will have no place to go and will be out on the streets. Do everything necessary to avoid a foreclosure. Make the effort to call the bank, lender or mortgage company, or call an attorney if you think you have a case involving fraud or deception. Don't let your pride get in your way. Ask for help from your church or local charity that helps people in financial difficulty. You are not alone in facing tough times, so do what you can to ensure that you do not lose your home to foreclosure. Part of the 'American Dream' is owning a home. Just be sure you do not needlessly let that dream slip away.

About the Author

Author Sean Roberts has penned several articles about foreclosure. See more of his writings here about foreclosure . You can also read other articles by him at the blog Desert Blogger.